From coast to coast, American suburbs share a common look: subdivisions of similar houses along winding streets, and separated from main thoroughfares of office and retail.

But in a handful of suburbs across the country, the suburban form is slowly urbanizing. Places like Arlington, Virginia, are using transit stops to spur denser residential and commercial growth. Closer to home, suburbs like Dublin outside of Columbus and Carmel just north of Indianapolis are giving themselves urban facelifts with housing options that go beyond single-family houses with yards, and with mixed-use developments that encourage walkability.

It's been hard to find local suburbs embracing more urban forms, but the plan to develop the Interstate 75 corridor in Warren County is a start. The area, located about halfway between Cincinnati and Dayton, has the potential to produce unsustainable sprawl. But with growth in the area all but inevitable, planning can mitigate some of the negative consequences.

Here are seven lessons that can apply to many different settings. They should inspire officials across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

1 Lose the cul-de-sac. Cul-de-sacs make people feel safe, but they increase congestion by dumping traffic onto a few main roads. And they actually pose a threat to safety by making it more difficult for emergency vehicles to reach their destinations. The I-75 plan encourages more connection between streets to reduce travel times and congestion.

2 Create mixed-use districts. Many suburbs have large tracts of land reserved for housing, located far from strip malls, big-box stores and other commercial uses. But some communities are placing housing closer to business districts, sometimes in the same buildings, which can reduce the need for auto travel. The I-75 plan envisions a mixed-use community that includes a college campus, recreational facilities, stores and offices alongside new and existing housing.

5 Increase density. As Warren County planners note, "bringing people closer together allows for the more efficient use of land, infrastructure, and public services." One bonus: Placing houses on smaller lots allows the community to reserve continuous open space that can be used for recreation.

4 Place jobs near housing. Building new housing in Warren County with the expectation that residents would drive to Cincinnati or Dayton for work would increase congestion on I-75. But the Warren County plan would exploit its location along a vital interstate to attract businesses in light manufacturing, high-tech research and other growing industries. Attracting jobs would also stabilize the finances of local governments and help pay for the infrastructure improvements needed for other priorities.

3 Embrace the roundabout. Ohio has been slow to adopt the use of traffic roundabouts, which are safer and more efficient than traditional intersections. But Butler County has added several roundabouts in recent years, and the Warren County plan calls for roundabouts along Greentree Road, Union Road and other thoroughfares. Planners concede they can be a tough sell to drivers who aren't used to them, but roundabouts are considered safer and more efficient than four-way intersections.

6 Calm traffic. One advantage to roundabouts is that they force motorists to slow down on approach. Warren County planners use other techniques to calm traffic, such as placing on-street parallel parking in mixed-use areas. The on-street parking reduces the need for surface parking lots, encourages drivers to drive more carefully and protects pedestrians.

7 Offer alternatives to the auto. Most residents will continue to need cars to live in Warren County, but the I-75 plan gives a nod to other options. The mixed-use communities allow residents to walk to at least some errands, while connected greenways allow for bike and pedestrian paths. County officials are increasingly interested in transit options, and there's even preliminary speculation about the rail tracks that run through Warren County, which connect Dayton and Cincinnati almost continuously. ■